Chapter 367

Cao Yang had just sat down at the award ceremony scene for a while when he suddenly felt the atmosphere of the award hall seem to freeze.

Old Tian, who was sitting next to him, gently said: "It's coming."

Cao Yang looked at Old Tian; at this moment, Old Tian was staring at the award presenter who had just walked onto the stage, his expression quite serious.

Cao Yang didn't know if he was saying it to himself or talking to himself.

Because what followed was the big drama of the night—the awards for the main competition unit were about to be presented.

The first one presented was the Best Newcomer Award; this can be considered an appetizer.

For directors who aspire to win big awards at the Venice Film Festival, this award is a bit of a chicken rib; they are very afraid it's a consolation nature, and if they give this, there will be no other awards.

But for newcomer actors, it is the best encouragement and recognition.

Therefore, when the award presenter announced that the winner was the actress Hafsia Herzi of the French film "The Secret of the Grain," this Algerian and Tunisian-descent French actress appeared exceptionally excited.

And the director of "The Secret of the Grain," Abdellatif Kechiche, only clapped symbolically, looking like he was smiling a bit reluctantly.

There aren't many awards at the three major European festivals; generally speaking, as long as they give a consolation award, wanting to win other big awards is really too difficult.

Unless it's because of some off-field reasons, such as the film festival wanting to promote you, such as your film fitting the theme of this film festival, which is the political correctness of this film festival.

The next award presented was actually the Jury Prize, another consolation-nature award.

Don't look at the fact that there is only a one-word difference between the Jury Prize and the Grand Jury Prize, but the gold content cannot be mentioned in the same breath.

The Grand Jury Prize is the award second only to the highest award, with higher gold content than Best Director, while the Jury Prize, compared to other awards, can only be said to be better than nothing.

Hmm, it can still be compared to the Best Newcomer Award.

This award was given to the American film "In the Valley of Elah," whose male and female leads were Tommy Lee Jones and Oscar Best Actress Charlize Theron.

Both of them only rushed over yesterday and happened to attend the closing ceremony red carpet.

Cao Yang couldn't help but think, is Old Ma dividing the cake? Can't let people come for nothing? Reshaping Venice's credibility lost in the US?

The third one presented was the Best Technical Contribution Award; this award is usually explained by the award presenter, and most of the time it is given to the cinematographer.

This award isn't really a consolation award; it is one of the fixed awards of the Venice Film Festival in recent years.

Consolation awards are generally not permanent awards; they are the kind of awards that are taken out when needed and not used most of the time.

After the winning cinematographer finished their acceptance speech, the next award presenter came to the stage and started talking about the importance of the script in a film.

Hmm, Jiang Wen might not agree with this point; he only needs a rough idea, writes two pages of a so-called script, and dares to pull together a crew.

Then, write the script and dialogue on site, and if he has an idea or inspiration, add it in at any time.

For Jiang Wen, what script or not script, what is that?

Of course, Wong Kar-wai might be more exaggerated than Jiang Wen.

For Wong Kar-wai, whether there is a script or not is the same; anyway, even if there is a script, it doesn't count.

"Who do you think will win the Best Screenplay Award?"

Old Tian saw the broadcast camera facing the award presenter, so he asked Cao Yang softly.

"Me."

Cao Yang raised his eyebrows at Old Tian and said with a smile.

He wanted to know, if "Sanctuary" won the Silver Lion for Best Screenplay, would Old Tian be worried.

Old Tian didn't have a special expression, just curled his lips, "Are you that confident?"

Cao Yang smiled; he is just that confident.

Nonsense, Old Ma said he wanted to give me a small surprise; thinking back and forth, only the Silver Lion for Best Screenplay truly belongs to me, and it can only be this surprise.

Of course, there is one more point that is the reason for Cao Yang's confidence.

Generally speaking, the order of awards is to present the Best Actress award first, then the Best Actor award.

Cao Yang, as the award presenter for Best Actress, received a notice that this year they would present Best Actor first, and let him go to the backstage to prepare for presenting Best Actress when the award presenter presented Best Actor.

The key is that after presenting the Best Screenplay award, the next was presenting Best Actress, and this year they swapped the order of Best Actress and Best Actor.

Isn't this obvious?

Sure enough, after the award presenter rambled on for a long time, he opened the envelope and said: "The winner of Best Screenplay is, 'Sanctuary,' Cao Yang."

"Clap clap clap..."

Applause rang out, much more enthusiastic than when the Best Technical Award was presented just now.

"You brat, not bad."

Old Tian patted Cao Yang on the shoulder, without a hypocritical hug; there was no need.

"Congratulations, congratulations, Cao Dao."

Fu Fu Dalong stood up, clapping while saying to Cao Yang.

"Congratulations Cao Dao, I knew such a good script would definitely win an award."

Hui Hui Yinghong didn't avoid it, hugged Cao Yang gently, and said with a smile.

"Pity, among the five Chinese-language films shortlisted for the main competition unit, only this one of ours received the notice to stay."

Old Tian sighed with a smile on the side; don't know if he was really sighing, or couldn't help but want to show off.

Cao Yang just acted as if he didn't hear and went to the stage to receive the award.

After Cao Yang received the award from the award presenter and delivered his acceptance speech, Fu Fu Dalong couldn't help but look enviously at Cao Yang, who was talking eloquently, and asked Old Tian softly:

"Director Tian, do we still have a chance tonight?"

Hui Hui Yinghong next to him seemed to have heard Fu Fu Dalong's words too; seemingly looking at Cao Yang on the stage, but her body leaning toward Old Tian showed that she also cared very much about whether "Sanctuary" could win another award.

Old Tian understood the two of them.

Since they were notified to stay, who wouldn't want to win a big award?

Fu Fu Dalong definitely wanted to win the Venice Best Actor in his heart.

Hui Hui Yinghong also didn't not want to win the Venice Best Actress.

Every actor present today, counting one by one, which one doesn't pin their hopes on Best Actor or Best Actress?

Old Tian definitely also wanted to nurture a Venice Best Actor or Best Actress.

Pity, Venice absolutely couldn't give a Golden Lion plus Best Actor or Golden Lion plus Best Actress after giving Best Screenplay; these are all fixed big awards, giving two is possible, three is absolutely impossible.

"How would I know, but I hope they can give another big award."

Old Tian had an expression of "I also really hope to win another award."

At this time, Cao Yang's acceptance speech finished, and the whole audience gave enthusiastic applause.

Fu Fu Dalong and Hui Hui Yinghong also followed and clapped hard.

After Cao Yang came back, when the applause subsided, the next award presenter came to the stage; he handed the Silver Lion to Old Tian and said: "Hold it, I'm going to present an award."

Watching Cao Yang leave quietly, Fu Fu Dalong's heart was about to jump to his throat.

For these two days, there have been rumors that Cao Dao would become the award presenter for Best Actor or Best Actress; didn't expect it to be true.

According to the normal process, the next is Best Actress, and the award presenter has already come to the stage, so Cao Dao is very likely going to present Best Actor.

Best Actor, Venice Best Actor!

Will Venice deliberately do a stunt, letting a Chinese director present the award to a Chinese actor? Is this also considered a beautiful story?

Fu Fu Dalong was still somewhat confident about his acting in "Sanctuary."

"... Next, what I am going to present is Best Actor..."

Fu Fu Dalong was stunned; what's going on?

The order of awards changed? At this moment, Fu Fu Dalong only felt cold in his heart; it turned out that Cao Dao went to prepare to present Best Actress.

Do I still have hope?

Fu Fu Dalong stared at the award presenter, wanting to hear those three most familiar words from her mouth.

"The winner of the 64th Venice International Film Festival Best Actor is... Brad Pitt, 'The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford,' congratulations."

Fu Fu Dalong's mouth twitched slightly, mechanically followed and clapped, and listened intently, hoping to hear 'and'...

Pity, there was no double yolk for Best Actor tonight, only Brad Pitt alone won the Venice Best Actor.

After Pitt went to the stage, Fu Fu Dalong said to Old Tian softly: "Director Tian, let me see Cao Dao's Silver Lion."

Old Tian also felt sorry for Fu Fu Dalong; he felt that Fu Fu Dalong's performance in "Sanctuary" was worth a Best Actor.

Fu Fu Dalong took the Silver Lion, first weighed it with his hand, then stroked it lovingly; he knew that this might be the closest he would ever get to a Silver Lion in his life.

Under the reminder of the staff, Cao Yang walked out from the backstage and came to the microphone.

"You all know clearly what I am going to present; that's right, Best Actress tonight."

Cao Yang didn't say any nonsense, just said to the microphone:

"This will be the third Venice Best Actress born from my hands; although this one didn't become Best Actress because of my film, I will personally hand the Silver Lion representing Best Actress to her in a moment."

Cao Yang looked at the guests laughing below and also followed and said with a smile: "So, who will it be?"

He opened the envelope, took a look, didn't sell a pass, and said to the microphone: "Cate Blanchett, 'I'm Not There,' congratulations."

Cate Blanchett won the Venice Best Actress by cross-dressing as a man; have to say, it is still very interesting.

"Very honored to be your third Venice Best Actress, thank you."

After Cate Blanchett came up, she hugged Cao Yang, and even cheek-kissed Cao Yang, and said with a smile in Cao Yang's ear.

Cao Yang smiled; this "Great Demon King" seems to have words behind words.

Come to think of it, Cate Blanchett is considered relatively anti-aging among Europeans and Americans; she is now in her thirties and almost forty, and if changed to other white women, including female stars, many at this age are already very old.

Cate Blanchett doesn't look that old.

Cao Yang discovered that it seems the Australian-born actresses he knows who are developing in Hollywood, compared to some European and American actresses, seem to be relatively anti-aging.

For example, Nicole Kidman, Naomi Watts, Rachel Griffiths, etc.

"Did you discover a problem?"

After presenting the award, after Cao Yang came back, Old Tian whispered.

"What problem?"

Old Tian looked up, the broadcast camera was facing the award presenter who had just come to the stage, and he said: "Old Ma has completely compromised with Hollywood; how many awards are there in Venice in total? You calculate how many awards he gave to the US."

Before, Cao Yang hadn't considered this problem; hearing Old Tian talk about this matter, he calculated it.

The Jury Prize was given to the US's "In the Valley of Elah."

The Best Technical Contribution Award was given to the US's "Atonement."

Best Actress was given to the US's "I'm Not There" actress Cate Blanchett.

Best Actor was given to the US's "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" actor Brad Pitt.

Now, only six awards have been presented in the main competition unit, and actually four were given to the US!

Really, if you don't calculate, you don't know; if you calculate, you are shocked.

Hmm, this seems to also fit the image of Italians? As long as they kneel down, it is quite thorough.

"There are still three big awards; they won't give them to the US again, right?"

Cao Yang said softly, somewhat uncertain.

Old Tian 'heh'ed, seemingly not believing it.

Seemingly to verify this 'heh' of Old Tian, Best Director unexpectedly played a double yolk, giving it to the Italian and several European countries' co-production "The Open Road," and the American film "Grace Is Gone."

Giving "The Open Road" a Best Director award, is it to appease Europe?

Cao Yang couldn't help but think.

However, the subsequent Grand Jury Prize once again produced a double yolk, given to the French film "The Secret of the Grain" and the American film "I'm Not There."

Damn, Old Ma, do you have to kneel so thoroughly!

(Don't believe it, you can search for the 64th Venice Film Festival; the Grand Jury Prize, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Screenplay, and Best Technical Contribution Award were all given to the US, and only one Best Newcomer Award and one double-yolk Grand Jury Prize were given to France. Actually, including the Golden Lion-winning "Lust, Caution," it is also a China-US co-production, to a certain extent also an American film.)

Venice has been run into an "Oscar"; important big awards were almost all given to the US.

"Heh!"

Old Tian once again expressed contempt for Old Ma; he looks down on art completely compromising with commerce the most.

Cao Yang looked at Old Tian; didn't expect Old Tian to still have persistence in his heart... fine, if the Golden Lion is given to you later, I hope you can 'heh' again.

"Did you discover that those two European art-house films are all films about immigrants."

Old Tian said softly.

"'The Open Road' and 'The Secret of the Grain'?"

Cao Yang asked; these two films, one won the double yolk for Best Director, one won the double yolk for Grand Jury Prize.

"I went to watch both of these films; they are both reflecting the immigration problem. In 2004, the EU began to expand, and a large number of foreign immigrants with different languages entered Europe.

They do work that European local workers disdain to engage in, living from hand to mouth, facing the danger of unemployment at any time, yet it is difficult to obtain fair treatment, and even more unable to realize the beautiful life they originally longed for.

The theme of these two films is all reflecting these, with a bit of pity for the world."

Cao Yang nodded; the political correctness of Europe at this period is to call on the EU to formulate protection measures for immigrants, to protect the legal rights of these immigrants, to ensure their basic life.

Hmm, mainly still standing on the moral high ground, looking down on these immigrants, with sympathy as the main thing.

Of course, at this time, if one shoots a film like "Parasite" reflecting the social turmoil caused by immigrants, that is looking for death; I'm afraid they can't even enter the main competition unit.

This isn't going against the current political correctness.

"It's coming."

This time it was Cao Yang who saw the award presenter come to the stage and said this to Old Tian with a smile.

Old Tian stared at the stage without blinking, his breathing a bit rapid, his hands clenched unnaturally, looking a bit pale.

Heh, thought you wouldn't be nervous.

"... The winner of the 64th Venice International Film Festival Best Film is, 'Sanctuary,' congratulations!"

"Phew..."

Cao Yang heard Old Tian breathe a long sigh of relief, his clenched hands relaxed, and his mouth was almost grinning to his ears.

"Cao Dao, Director Tian, Golden Lion, we are Golden Lion!"

Fu Fu Dalong clenched his hands, looking very excited, and couldn't help but shout.

Hui Hui Yinghong covered her mouth with her hand, her eyes wide open looking forward, still in a state of disbelief.

"Calm, calm."

Old Tian stood up in the applause, pulled Cao Yang up, and then said to Fu Fu Dalong and Hui Hui Yinghong: "Go, go, together, together!"

Cao Yang stood up with a smile, joked to Old Tian with a smile: "Sigh, Old Ma is too inappropriate; this time the awards are just messing around..."

Old Tian glared at Cao Yang with a smile; he understood Cao Yang's bad taste, but today was a happy day, and he was happy to cooperate.

"What messing around, I think Old Ma ran this session quite well, especially in major awards, objectively achieving the principles of fairness and justice."

Fine, fine, whatever you say is right; you say objective and fair, then it is objective and fair.

Haha, why don't you 'heh' anymore?

(End of chapter)